Despite keeping it close throughout and a late inning rally, the Carolina Mudcats were never able to take control of the game as they fell to the Potomac Nationals 4-2 on Friday night. Carolina (5-3) trailed by no more than one run until the seventh inning, when the team gave up three runs with the score tied at one to fall behind by more than they could catch up to.

As a soon-to-be 24-year-old just now debuting at Double-A, Joe Wendle is bound to have some questions about his future. So far in 2014, Wendle is doing what he does best to answer those questions -- hitting -- and Thursday night was no different. Joining Wendle is a catcher in Lake County continuing his development, some rough pitching performances throughout the system, and much more. Join Jim Piascik as he takes you Around the Farm.

An impressive eighth by the Carolina Mudcats secured a 4-3 come from behind win over the Frederick Keys on Thursday night. Down by two runs, Carolina responded with three runs in the eighth to earn their first comeback win of the season.

Death, taxes (which Jim Piascik finished last night), and #WashTime making noise on the field. Anyone familiar with Cleveland's minor league system knows to expect great things when LeVon Washington is on the field and Wednesday was no exception. Joining Washington is a Lake County pitcher showing some surprising swing and miss in his game, a pair of organizational debuts with the RubberDucks, and more. Join Jim as he takes you Around the Farm.

Nine runs proved to be plenty as the Carolina Mudcats topped the Frederick Keys, 9-2, Wednesday in Maryland. The Mudcats improved their record to 4-2 on the season, fueled largely by five runs in the fifth inning. Three different Mudcats recorded two RBIs while Alex Monslave tallied three hits and three runs.

In their first road game of the season, the Carolina Mudcats (3-2) relied on six perfect innings from starter Dylan Baker to secure a 7-0 shutout victory over the Frederick Keys (2-3) on Tuesday night. Baker started his tenure off with Carolina on a high note with a perfect pitching performance after being transferred from Mahoning Valley on Monday. Baker retired 18 straight Keys' batters.

Despite holding a two-run lead through seven innings, the Carolina Mudcats gave up five runs over the final two innings to fall to the Potomac Nationals 6-4 on Sunday afternoon. Making his Carolina League debut, right-hander Cole Sulser pitched admirably, giving up only one run and one hit over five innings, while striking out seven and walking just one batter.

The Carolina Mudcats took their early-season record back over .500 with a 3-1 win against Potomac Saturday. Ryan Merritt worked some magic, pitching six scoreless innings while Louis Head picked up the save. The Mudcats survived despite being outhit six to three in the game.

The Mudcats jumped out to a five run lead after four innings, but lost control of the game when the pitching staff lost control of their pitches to the tune of seven walks. The issues with the pitching staff led to a Potomac Nationals 10-5 victory on Friday night at Five County Stadium.

Sure, the major league club started playing games on Monday, but *real baseball* is finally back in your lives now that the Akron RubberDucks and the Carolina Mudcats kicked off the minor league season! The stars of tomorrow started their seasons of today, with players like Giovanny Urshela doing their best to answer all of the questions about them in one game. Join Jim Piascik as he reintroduces an IBI staple into your life and takes you Around the Farm.

It is opening day in the minor leagues. Tonight three of the Indians full season affiliates Triple-A Columbus, Double-A Akron and High-A Carolina will open while Low-A Lake County opens up their season on Friday. In our annual preview of the Indians minor league system, several IBI writers share their thoughts on what to watch this season, who can breakout, and so much more.

The 2014 Carolina Mudcats in the spring of 2014 are a vastly different team than they were a season ago. Last season, the Muddies debuted with their prior two first round draft picks in Francisco Lindor and Tyler Naquin. As expected, both top ten prospects made quick work of the Carolina League, and were playing in Akron by the end of the season. Also gone is arguably the Indians top pitching prospect in Cody Anderson, who followed Lindor and Naquin, as well as several other high upside Indians’ prospects, to Akron for the 2014 season.

Minor league camp wrapped up on Saturday and on Sunday all players arrived at their full season destinations. With that, a little over 100 minor league players are set to open the season on Thursday or Friday this week at Triple-A Columbus, Double-A Akron, High-A Carolina and Low-A Lake County. Here are the rosters!

Last week we wrapped up the 2014 Top 50 prospect countdown, and today we unveil the beginning of our 2014 Positional Rankings by kicking off things with the first basemen in the Indians system. First base is a position where the Indians have some strength in the upper levels, but beyond that it is a position of great uncertainty and one of the weaker positions in the organization. Join Tony as he breaks down the first basemen in the system.

The 2014 Winter Olympics have featured the world’s greatest hockey players, including Team Canada, who defeated both women’s and men’s U.S. hockey teams on Thursday and Friday. Rob Nixon loves hockey, but it was America’s past time that led to his career in baseball with the Cleveland Indians. The IBI's Stephanie Metzger recently caught up with him...

As spring training gets underway, here is an updated Cleveland Indians depth chart for the 2014 season and where players are "projected" to be assigned from Cleveland all the way down to extended spring training. We will continue to update this listing as moves are made this offseason, during spring training, and throughout the season with the addition, subtraction, promotion, demotion, etc of players. Happy pitchers and catchers day!

It’s been said that life begins outside one’s comfort zone, but Cody Anderson knows better than to get too comfortable while toeing the rubber. After huge strides in 2013 with his continued transition from a reliever in college to a starter in the pros and gaining confidence in his secondary pitches, he looks primed for a big year in 2014. The IBI's Stephanie Metzger recently caught up with Anderson and discusses how his transition to the pros has gone to date.

Joe Wendle has become an increasingly polarizing prospect in the Indians system as his value is all over the map according to national pundits. Some like him, some don't. Wendle has performed very well in his short career, and was named the IBI's Offensive Player of the Year for his outstanding year last season. The IBI's Jim Pete and Michael Hattery discuss why Wendle is a legit prospect and why he is criminally underrated.

Indians outfield prospect Bryson Myles suffered a shoulder injury early in the 2013 season. The setback was frustrating and certainly a diversion, but it led to some soul-searching that may have turned his season and even career around. The IBI's Stephanie Metzger recently sat down with to discuss his 2013 season and everything you took from it.

Available IBI Books

The 2014 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!